Snippets from our life.

Blake just had a birthday and is now 3! I can't believe how fast he is growing up. Blake loves puzzles, play dough, and books. His favorite color is blue. He is a great older brother and when he wants to be he is a great help to his mommy. 

I have learned from Blake to think things through and to make time for contemplation. To take time to read a good book and that it is okay to make up the lyrics to a song you can't remember the words to. Having clean hands are important. Talk to anyone near by, whether you know them are not, it helps them to feel loved. Always try to include others. Be quick to forgive.

Tyler is almost two and is becoming more independent. He is quite the talker and will repeat almost anything you say. He loves his "big boy bed" but I can't ever seem to get him to stay in it. He also love trains, cars, elephants, and running (non stop). Tyler can always make me laugh and can lighten up a tense situation. 

I have learned from Tyler to not stress the little things. Ears are wonderful. Singing happy birthday even when it isn't anybody's birthday can lighten your mood. Smile. Explore the world around you even if it means getting dirty. Be content with what you have and don't be too upset if it is taken away from you. Be tender hearted.

Lacey is will be 11 weeks on Monday. She is always smiling and is starting to coo. She is very patient with her older brothers. She has beautiful blue eyes that melt my heart. She loves her Daddy. There will be times I will try and try to get her to smile, but she won't. Then her daddy comes in and all the sudden she can't stop smiling. Of course this makes Matt so proud. That girl already has her daddy tied around her finger. She is sleeping through the night! I put her to bed at 7pm and she doesn't wake up again until 7am. 

I have learned from Lacey that when your hungry eat and when your full stop. When your tired take a nap. Baths are great and smiling at someone can make their day. 

Matt also had a birthday and is now 30. He has been busy with school, and taking good care of his family. He is training for a triathlon in September. There is a beautiful trail about a 10min. walk from our place, where he runs and bikes. He also just got offered a temporary job after he takes the bar. We are hoping for something a little more permanent, but we are very grateful for this opportunity he will have.

I am slowly adjusting to life with three children. They know how to keep me busy and out of trouble ;). I recently got a sewing machine and now that life is getting a little more under control I think I might start on some sewing projects.

Backus Reunion

When Matt was little it was a  family favorite trip to go camping at the beach.  Now several years later we went there for the first official Backus Family Reunion. Everyone was able to come and it was so much fun. The boys LOVED the beach. It was also their first time to go camping and they were excited about the tent and having their own sleeping bag. Thanks Mom and Dad Backus for the wonderful time in CA!

Tyler was in heaven with all the sand and dirt. I don't think he stayed clean longer the 2 minutes.

Blake trying to be brave and test out the water with Uncle Scott and cousin Dallin.

Lacey spent most of the time at the beach in her car seat under a pop up tent.

Sand...

sand...

and more sand!

Tyler, Courtney and under the red hat is Uncle Phil. 

For Aunt Nellie

My sister Nellie has been asking and asking me since Lacey has been born to post pictures of Lacey. So here ya go Nells. Isn't she cute?!

(With a wink and a Smile) I love her chubby rolls!

Of course I had to post some pictures of Blake and Tyler too.

This is the face Blake makes when I ask him to smile big.

Tyler pretending to be Mary and Joseph. It changed by minute who he was wanting to be. 

We may have gone mad...

but we have survived! The past 7 weeks have been a whirlwind. Here is what we have been up to:

As stated in my last post Lacey Nicole Backus was born May 31st. I went in at 8:00am to be induced. 10:00am they started the pitocin by 12:00pm I was in full labor, 2:40pm I was fully dilated and 2:43pm Lacey made her arrival.

The next day, June 1st, Matt and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary by of course adoring our new baby girl, and getting take out at Texas roadhouse (so much tastier than hospital food).The day I was released from the hospital Matt, baby, and I drove to Mesa, where the boys were staying with their Grandma. We picked them up and then the kids and I stayed with my parents while Matt went back to Tucson and loaded up the moving truck.
The next day he and his dad drove the truck to Colorado. When they got there on Saturday they learned that the apartment was not ready for them to move in, but would be ready soon. Soon became later and by Monday night the apartment was finally ready to be moved into. Matt finished unloading the truck by 11:30pm. Whew! The next day my mom, the kids, and I flew into Denver. Thank goodness my mom was there to help out or else the apartment would still be filled with unpacked moving boxes. That same Tuesday Matt started the tax law program. A week later my mom left and I wanted to cry. I was now left alone for the first time with three kids ages two and under! I was very nervous.
A couple weeks later we made our first family trip to Grand Junction to meet up with Matt's sister Cami and her family. They live in Canada and we don't get to see them as much as we would like to . We spent a great day at the park and had a picnic, then had to say good bye too soon.

That following Monday Matt's Mom came to be with us for the week. I wanted to cry again, but this time for joy. Lacey has acid reflux (that's 3 for 3), I was tired, the boys had been acting out because of all the changes, and I was not handling things as well as I would have liked. I felt a lot of relief while she was here.
That Saturday Matt's Dad, my parents, and two of my sisters flew in to be with us for Lacey's baby blessing and to help us celebrate the fourth of July. Sunday was a great day. Our church doesn't start until 1pm so we took our families to the Colorado temple grounds. At church Matt gave Lacey a beautiful baby blessing, I just didn't hear any of it because Blake was upset that his Daddy had left him. I made Matt write the blessing as  soon as he sat back down. That night we went and saw the fireworks. It was the coldest 4th of July  I have ever had! Monday we went to the park and had a picnic then that evening everybody went back home and again I wanted to cry (not from joy).

Having three kids has been a real adjustment, in fact you could say we are still adjusting, but we love being the parents to the three greatest, and cutest kids on earth! We also LOVE Colorado. It is beautiful here and we love our ward. We also really like our new apartment that has a big basement and a back yard for the boys to run around in. I keep planing to post pictures of the apartment, but it has never been clean enough for me to take pictures of it, but I will...someday...maybe. :)

Welcome...

Lacey Nicole Backus! She weighs 8lbs and is 20in. long. The delivery went well and Mommy and baby are doing great!

Pomp and Circumstance

We did it! Matt and I finally Graduated this Semester. Me with my bachelor's degree and Matt with his LAW DEGREE!!! It is so nice to be done...well at least for me. But Matt only has one more year to get his L.L.M. and then our lives as students will be over.  I am so proud of Matt and all the hard work he has accomplished.

I am also grateful for two little boys who were so patient with their Mommy and Daddy to finish school . 

Messy Day

A typical day in the Backus household has its share of messes.
If you lived here, this is how you might find a your children after you brushed you teeth and got dressed.
Thank goodness they were washable markers.  

And after you gave your children the cookie dough beaters, they may look like this when they are through.

While nap time may seem like a time of peace, quiet, and cleanliness, that is not always the case here. You may find that your child has thrown pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, pants, and diapers out of their bed. Chances are pretty good that they left a wet (or worse) surprise in the crib too.

Also, do not be surprised if you child looks like this after eating one small, tiny piece of chocolate Easter candy.

Yup, just a typical day at the Backus home.